Simon Cox bags Southend United winner to silence his critics

Cox - who had been singled out for criticism from a section of supporters on social media - scored from close range in the second half to secure Blues a 1-0 victory at Roots Hall.

But the experienced 31-year-old insisted he had not been affected by the harsh assessments of his performances.

“We play in a high pressure sport and people have their opinions,” said Cox.

“Football is highly opinionated but I listen to the people who are close to me - the management, my friends, my family and my team-mates.

“They are all I listen to and I’m not really too fussed with what anyone else has to say because it’s a fickle game.

“You can do really well one week and really badly the next and everything changes.

“But my focus is to do well for the team and myself so it’s great to have got the win.”

Cox tapped home the only goal of the game eight minutes into the second half after good approach play from Theo Robinson.

And the striker was thrilled to see the ball hit the back of the net despite not making a clean connection with the ball.

“It was a classic striker’s finish off my heal,” smiled Cox, who has now scored twice this term.

“I did my best to miss but I’m not bothered how they go in, especially when they give us the three points which I thought were well deserved.”

Blues’ victory also ended a run of three successive League One defeats.

And Cox wants the work-rate shown in seeing off Fleetwood to be the sign of things to come.

“If we do what we did here for the rest of the season with the high pressure and the willingness to run we will win more games than we lose,” said Cox.

“Our two best chances came from our high press and we chased and hounded them which is what we must keep on doing.

“It’s a tricky game for us on Saturday at Wycombe now and then it’s Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday again so it’s all fun and games from now on.”

Saturday’s win pushed the Shrimpers up to 16th.